Defamation campaign against Bosnian corruption combatant

After a very secret privatization of the energy sector in Republica Srpska in the spring of 2007 TI was presented to evidence of an illegal privatization of energy companies in RS, where taxpayer's money had been embezzled. TI tried to get more information about the privatization from the authorities it was refused in a very angry and resolute way. Since the end of June 2008 TI there has been a heavy campaign from government-controlled media outlets trying to discredit the organization and on the other side independent media supporting the work of TI.

According to TI the Prime Minister himself has also been engaged in the campaign against TI by calling some of its members “faggots”, “criminals”, “liars” etc. The reply from TI:s chair person has been ridiculed by the RS administration. The pressure on TI BiH:s staff and members is enormous and they struggle to combat the large propaganda machinery from those who defending the Government's privatization deals. TI is being branded “a criminal network”, “foreign mercenaries gang” in some RS media outlets.

TI fears physical attacks against its employees and members as the RS government is portraying the TI as a criminal network. According to The OHR spokeswoman Ljiljana Radetic the attack against TI could be planned. A letter alleged written by the president of the NGO “Narodni front” [People's Front] Mr Dragomir Babic stated that there was a plan for discrediting Transparency International.

Since its establishment in 2001 Transparency International BiH has been the strongest actor against corruption in Bosnia Herzegovina. The Swedish Helsinki Committee started its co-operation with Transparency International in 2007. Together with TI we have developed Advocacy and Legal Aid Centre (ALAC), using methods which have proven to be effective for including citizens in the fight against corruption in several countries. We also support an anti-corruption hot line, where citizens can get info about legal mechanisms and procedure and/or to report corruption cases.

For more information:
Robert Hårdh, Secretary-General, Swedish Helsinki Committee, + 46 8 545 27 731